Jackson Square Planning Initiative

In June 1999 the Jackson Coordinating Group (JCG) was formed to oversee the Jackson Square Planning Initiative. More than 30 organizations with interests in Jackson Square were identified and asked to appoint an official representative to the planning group.

The goal of the Jackson Square Planning Initiative was to build community consensus around the type of development that is appropriate for the area and to ensure that development benefits the existing community.

During the course of the planning process, the community defined a focus area (a quarter-mile radius of Jackson Square) and an impact area (a half-mile radius of Jackson Square). The group agreed to consider vacant and under-utilized land and buildings and how development of this land and buildings will impact the community in terms of gentrification, retail demand, and housing costs.

The group also agreed to hold neighborhood meetings hosted by JCG members to solicit input on a vision for Jackson Square. JCG members hosted more than 80 neighborhood meetings attended by 800 area residents. A Preliminary Data Report was compiled that categorized data from the neighborhood meetings and expressed clear preferences for certain land uses and activities in the area.

Building on this input, the JCG hosted two community-wide charrettes to refine the vision. More than 250 representatives from JCG organizations and community residents attended the first charrette. Participants worked in teams of 25 with facilitators and architects to identify visions and goals, clarify social issues, and create a site plan that illustrated a proposal generated by team consensus. During the second charrette, participants built upon themes identified in the first charrette and arrived at a unified Jackson Square Development Plan.

The planning process for Jackson Square is now complete. The community vision for Jackson Square was published July 2001.